$250 million GTA: San Andreas lawsuit fails

Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two Interactive has won a lawsuit over Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, writes The Hollywood Reporter. An appellate court judge on Wednesday denied supposed Cypress Hill backup singer Michael "Shagg" Washington's claims that Rockstar used his life story and physical appearance as a basis for protagonist Carl "CJ" Johnson. Cypress Hill denies any association with Washington.

However, a judge did not find this to be enough, and a California appeals court has concurred. Washington's principal problem was that he could not prove it was his likeness that appeared in San Andreas. The judge said, "Plaintiff is relying entirely on CJ's physical appearance in the game, but that appearance is so generic that it necessarily includes hundreds of other black males."

Additionally, the judge ruled that even if Rockstar did base CJ on Washington, it would have been protected as transformative fair use. This is an argument based on the fact that the First Amendment allows existing materials, including images, to be used so long as they are amended enough for a new purpose.

"Washington has presented no evidence demonstrating that the plot or characters of GTA: San Andreas have any relevance to his life or his purported fame," a statement from the decision reads.

[CORRECTION] According to a tweet from Cypress Hill, Washington is not affiliated with the band. GameSpot regrets the error.

Reminds me of the Simpson's episode when Bart was accused of being head of the Mob. After watching the movie based on it, homer asks "When do we get paid for this?" Marge replies "they said they changed it enough that they don't have to pay us". - probably the same thing here.

Another washed up junkie trying to make some money....Hey Shagg...go greet shoppers at Wal Mart scumbag. You don't see all the people that South Park makes fun of and they use the real name of the people most of the time and you can tell they are making fun of them. But I guess they put that warning up before every episode stating that any likeness is only by coincidence.....but still EVERYONE knows what they are doing....so I can just see it now......when every game loads you will get that same message, unless endorsed by a specific "real" person......so sad....lol